No transfer business.....

[CaptainMorgans]

I wasn't expecting lots of business. But I did expect a couple of central defenders and a couple of midfielders to be brought in.

I'd like to see Ben Davies or Jake Cooper brought in for LCB, maybe Jed Wallace for midfield creativity. Someone like Lewis O'Brien to push John Fleck in midfield. But failing the above, one or two Prem loanees to bolster the squad.

 

[Newbury Blade]

Typical Tinpot United
All gone to Villa
Etc etc

And why? “No ambishun”!

 

[robbiez666]

If we move to a 3-4-3, we only have 2 central midfielders in the starting line up.

Dropping the 3 from last year makes quite a big difference, with returning loans / injuries all of a sudden there's 6 player for 2 positions.

Fleck
Freeman
Norwood
Berge
Osborn
Slater

Not saying we aren't short or quality, but Berge (if he stays), Freeman (if he comes good) and Slater (if he continues to improve) are almost 3 new signings. Obviously three big ifs, but might not be as chronic as we think in middle of the park.

Slater aside all of the above are proven performers at Championship level.

I'd still like to see some incomings, and suggest we will see this. However, CBs are a bigger priority at the moment?

This is my major worry at the moment. If we're moving to 3-4-3 then ok but....

Goalkeeper

if we say Verrips is good enough (assuming Rammers is going) we have a keeper, but Wes is awful and Eastwood is always injured so we need another keeper really.

CBs

No JOC and Robinson not good enough to rely on at LCB. Need a starter there
Egan is fine but we need cover
Bash probably fine but difficult to rely on his at his age and he does pick up little knocks. So, need cover.

I think we can probably bring two in and rely on the kids for cover in case of several injuries. I worry we'll rely on Baldock and Stevens as cover.

WBs

Fine on the right (Bogle, Baldock, Seriki)
Fine on the left (RND, Stevens, Osborn - I have no idea why we'd not try and move Lowe on but he is more suited to a flying wingback position)

CMs

If we're playing a two, I'm not confident that Norwood or Fleck will be good enough. If we keep Berge, then fine, but we need a box to box athletic midfielder to slot in next to him. Osborn could maybe do that job but he's inconsistent and not good enough in the tackle/marking to rely on. Presumably Slater will slot in as well, but again nothing has demonstrated that he's good enough at this level. I don't think Freeman can play the role in a 2. We need to bring at least one in.

Central striker

McBurnie is the only player who really fits in to that slot. Moose has the pace but not good enough in the air or holding it up.

You wonder where the other strikers will fit in. Hard to argue that we should recruit here given the numbers but we have no natural hit really.

Wide forwards

You could say Burke is the only one who fits here. I've seen people argue Freeman but I'm not convinced he has the pace of tricks to do it well. We need at least one to come in.

I've said previously that I'd only start worrying if we hadn't brought anyone in by August. Unless we're in the process of signing on Monday I feel worrying is perfectly acceptable then. Worth bearing in mind that it's not like new players will be coming into a set formation. It's a new formation for everyone so each new acquisition will make things more difficult for everyone else. The more time practicing it, the more successful it's likely to be.

 

[Snowflake]

I'm sure we have things in the pipeline most probably loans. Obviously Rammers and Berge leaving for around 60m would alter things.
Agree entirely with OP about shortfalls in squad at the present moment I wouldn't think we could get into top 10

I think your view of the other teams in the Championship is far too positive. There are not six really good teams in there, let alone ten that are better than us.

 

[Snowflake]

I wasn't expecting lots of business. But I did expect a couple of central defenders and a couple of midfielders to be brought in.

I'd like to see Ben Davies or Jake Cooper brought in for LCB, maybe Jed Wallace for midfield creativity. Someone like Lewis O'Brien to push John Fleck in midfield. But failing the above, one or two Prem loanees to bolster the squad.

Perhaps the quality that we need is not easily obtainable and we know that buying less than quality doesn’t work.

 

[Silent Blade]

 

[Charlieblade]

Few seem to have considered that the new manager will possibly have plans for the squad as a whole in terms of changing style and attitudes, (similar to the hard working squad that took the PL by surprise in our first year back).
He may also envisage individual players in a different role or style of play. It didn’t do Basham’s career prospects any harm.
His preferred approach may mean a slow start to the season, but he will have learned from previous seasons with Watford and Fulham.
No transfer activity, and no loans yet does not necessarily mean much at all at this stage. Few teams have gone in big yet at any level. There are mitigating factors like Euro 2020, Covid and a lack of friendly pre season fixtures.
I suggest fans calm down a bit, and look forward to Slav putting his attacking, high press style on display in the championship.

 

[PaddysMad]

You can’t handle this candy

 

[dtblade]

nobody comes in until somebody goes out, simples !
maybe a couple of loans but we will have move some out on loan first to make room

 

[Kop sufferer]

I'd like to bet if it were possible to do a quick survey of all Championship managers as to who they are most nervous about playing, we'd be up there in the frame and rightly so.
I reckon Slavs playing it just the way he wants to play it, we need to be patient, but, me included, we all want it now.

 

[JJBlade]

Ryan Sessignon on loan
Harvey Elliott on loan

= Promotion as Champions

Will we get either of them ?
Doubt it

 

[Carlton Blade]

This is my major worry at the moment. If we're moving to 3-4-3 then ok but....

Goalkeeper

if we say Verrips is good enough (assuming Rammers is going) we have a keeper, but Wes is awful and Eastwood is always injured so we need another keeper really.

CBs

No JOC and Robinson not good enough to rely on at LCB. Need a starter there
Egan is fine but we need cover
Bash probably fine but difficult to rely on his at his age and he does pick up little knocks. So, need cover.

I think we can probably bring two in and rely on the kids for cover in case of several injuries. I worry we'll rely on Baldock and Stevens as cover.

WBs

Fine on the right (Bogle, Baldock, Seriki)
Fine on the left (RND, Stevens, Osborn - I have no idea why we'd not try and move Lowe on but he is more suited to a flying wingback position)

CMs

If we're playing a two, I'm not confident that Norwood or Fleck will be good enough. If we keep Berge, then fine, but we need a box to box athletic midfielder to slot in next to him. Osborn could maybe do that job but he's inconsistent and not good enough in the tackle/marking to rely on. Presumably Slater will slot in as well, but again nothing has demonstrated that he's good enough at this level. I don't think Freeman can play the role in a 2. We need to bring at least one in.

Central striker

McBurnie is the only player who really fits in to that slot. Moose has the pace but not good enough in the air or holding it up.

You wonder where the other strikers will fit in. Hard to argue that we should recruit here given the numbers but we have no natural hit really.

Wide forwards

You could say Burke is the only one who fits here. I've seen people argue Freeman but I'm not convinced he has the pace of tricks to do it well. We need at least one to come in.

I've said previously that I'd only start worrying if we hadn't brought anyone in by August. Unless we're in the process of signing on Monday I feel worrying is perfectly acceptable then. Worth bearing in mind that it's not like new players will be coming into a set formation. It's a new formation for everyone so each new acquisition will make things more difficult for everyone else. The more time practicing it, the more successful it's likely to be.

Where Burke really fits

 

[Snowflake]

nobody comes in until somebody goes out, simples !
maybe a couple of loans but we will have move some out on loan first to make room

At least four have already gone. Ther3 is plenty of room

 

[ancientblade]

This is my major worry at the moment. If we're moving to 3-4-3 then ok but....

Goalkeeper

if we say Verrips is good enough (assuming Rammers is going) we have a keeper, but Wes is awful and Eastwood is always injured so we need another keeper really.

CBs

No JOC and Robinson not good enough to rely on at LCB. Need a starter there
Egan is fine but we need cover
Bash probably fine but difficult to rely on his at his age and he does pick up little knocks. So, need cover.

I think we can probably bring two in and rely on the kids for cover in case of several injuries. I worry we'll rely on Baldock and Stevens as cover.

WBs

Fine on the right (Bogle, Baldock, Seriki)
Fine on the left (RND, Stevens, Osborn - I have no idea why we'd not try and move Lowe on but he is more suited to a flying wingback position)

CMs

If we're playing a two, I'm not confident that Norwood or Fleck will be good enough. If we keep Berge, then fine, but we need a box to box athletic midfielder to slot in next to him. Osborn could maybe do that job but he's inconsistent and not good enough in the tackle/marking to rely on. Presumably Slater will slot in as well, but again nothing has demonstrated that he's good enough at this level. I don't think Freeman can play the role in a 2. We need to bring at least one in.

Central striker

McBurnie is the only player who really fits in to that slot. Moose has the pace but not good enough in the air or holding it up.

You wonder where the other strikers will fit in. Hard to argue that we should recruit here given the numbers but we have no natural hit really.

Wide forwards

You could say Burke is the only one who fits here. I've seen people argue Freeman but I'm not convinced he has the pace of tricks to do it well. We need at least one to come in.

I've said previously that I'd only start worrying if we hadn't brought anyone in by August. Unless we're in the process of signing on Monday I feel worrying is perfectly acceptable then. Worth bearing in mind that it's not like new players will be coming into a set formation. It's a new formation for everyone so each new acquisition will make things more difficult for everyone else. The more time practicing it, the more successful it's likely to be.

i disagree on robinson i think hes good enough for the championship but if davies does come in i would expect robinson to be an able deputy

 

[robbiez666]

i disagree on robinson i think hes good enough for the championship but if davies does come in i would expect robinson to be an able deputy

My concern with Robinson is consistency. He can be good enough but we've seen mixed performances for us (and he seems to have issues with playing twice a week regularly as well). I also think he would benefit from having someone better in the air. We are a small side and it will cost us more against direct teams/teams which rely on set-pieces.

 

[Sheff de party]

A few thoughts (not based on any insight or ITK):
- Given his recent injuries, I can't see any club offering the asking price for Berge. A season-long loan with an option/obligation to buy is far more likely with an obliged purchase enabling Utd to spend against it
- Arsenal will eventually end-up making an acceptable offer for Ramsdale, who, given the lack of able cover, will be replaced by a loan
- Prem loans are unlikely to be finalised until after Prem squads have been confirmed i.e. after the start of the season
- I'm surprised more in-contact players (especially strikers inc. Mousset and Burke) have not moved on and that a least a couple haven't been brought-in - just highlights how difficult it is to get deals over the line at the moment
- The lack of creativity and scoring threat from midfield is a big concern, as is the lack of cover at CB.

Appreciate you’re just conjecturing, but what’s the difference between signing Berge and getting him on loan with an obliged purchase?

United are either not selling him for less than £35m or they’re playing hardball and trying to get as close to that as possible.

I think it’s the former and he stays.

 

[Booker4]

Robinson is probably ok for the Championship but I'd much prefer that he was back-up and we signed someone like Davies as first choice LCB. We need cover for Bash. Egan and then that leaves the centre midfield and if we are to play with just two then we may well not bring in another unless Berge goes - which he probably will in fairness. One right sided centre mid a priority if so, will probably be on loan.

Goalkeeper wise we're waiting on Rammers leaving, think he'll probably go so yes we'll need another as Verrips is untested but also highly rated. So plenty of business to fo but still plenty of time, think the deadline ends end of August? Having the window close then always means that business is dragged onto when the season starts, unfortunately.

 

[Addison]

My concern with Robinson is consistency. He can be good enough but we've seen mixed performances for us (and he seems to have issues with playing twice a week regularly as well). I also think he would benefit from having someone better in the air. We are a small side and it will cost us more against direct teams/teams which rely on set-pieces.

Absolutely. Robinson is a left back and reads the game like a full back. Hence him losing players that run in behind like Bamfords goal for Weeds scum at the Lane. He is poor in the air and his tackling is suspect. At times he's a red card waiting to happen. The pre season game last season where he put Gunnerson out of action for a few months being an example. He had a good game against Burnley, a team on the beach, but his early season performances showed up all his flaws. He does have a good throw on him and can cross a ball but he is not and will never be a centre half. Not his fault he's been played out of position. We must have a suitable replacement for JOC for the start of the season.

 

[Mouth of the South]

Appreciate you’re just conjecturing, but what’s the difference between signing Berge and getting him on loan with an obliged purchase?

United are either not selling him for less than £35m or they’re playing hardball and trying to get as close to that as possible.

I think it’s the former and he stays.

The main reason to do it would be to for the buying club would be to defer the (initial) payment for 12 months, which would no doubt be somewhat offset by a loan fee.

From Utd's perspective, it both removes his salary from this season's wage bill and locks-in future proceeds. Utd could either win, lose of come out even from that approach - the footballing equivalent of being dealt 15 in blackjack - loaning with an agreed sales price would be sticking. If however, they decided to twist (and not either fix the fee or tie-in the buying club to a purchase), he could be dealt >6 e.g. him sustaining another serious injury that would reduce his value or they could be dealt a 5 or 6 e.g. he have a storming season thereby increasing the strength of their hand and the player's value. There's also the factor that the player would have 12 months less left on his contract.

If there were offers of the asking price now, I'm sure the club would accept them but there obviously aren't and it appears a loan offer is likely to be the best one they receive - not really surprising given how little he's played recently.

 

[ancientblade]

well if robinson is a left back i reckon thats 5 weve got because i think thats osborns best position as well at least 2 have to go

 

[bypassblade]

Yes we've brought n one in yet but all I am asking for is we start to get a return from McBurnie, Brewster and Mousset they owe use a fair few goals this season. I'm still worried over our midfield but who knows they may excel, we shall have to wait and see and trust in the new boss.

 

[munksyb]

The different opinions of who's good enough and who's not , just shows that all the expert managers on here have no idea,
personally I'll support whatever Slavisa thinks he has to do, and our squad of last season wasn't quite good enouigh for the Premier, but I think it is good enough for the Championship, and we should bother about being premiership ready next season.
0 transfer activity would be good, and see what loans we can get.
Then re-assess at at Christmas.

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

Calm down yer great bunch of fannies. We knew we were going to be mainly in the loan market, and for the better loan players deals are done late.
Worst case is we play Birmingham with the side that beat Burnley last time out, but we also have Billy, Berge and RND to consider.

And Freeman

 

[S64 Blade]

I think we probably need 3 in. Two centre halves and a midfielder.

I’d guess from that, 2 loans and one permanent.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

And Freeman

And Oli McB

 

[Kev Gee]

I do think the lack of any incoming at CB and CM is abit worrying,. But if SJ thinks we are strong enough without bringing anyone in then so be it.

I would have liked to see some incomings to freshen things up but hey ho!

 

[EddieColquhoun]

Worst case is we play Birmingham with the side that beat Burnley last time out, but we also have Billy, Berge and RND to consider.

And Freeman

And Oli McB

And Mousset.
And Burke.
And Verrips.
And Slater.
And Broadbent.
And Lopata.
And No Lundstram.

 

[Kev Gee]

Thinking about it, if it means that some of our youth players get a chance to show they can make the step up, then I'm all for going with what we have. As long as it doesn't harm their longer term progress.

 

[ancientblade]

still think a centre back and a midfielder will come in before the end of august

 

[SouthStandGBlock]

Not sure if I've missed anything, but just seen this;

YorkshireLive report: "Slavisa Jokanovic says he is 'hopeful of results soon' regarding new arrivals having held a series of talks with the club's key recruitment figures.

"The new Blades boss is not planning a major overhaul of the playing squad, insisting on evolution not revolution."

Hopefully that answers most of the points raised on here.